JDRF funds research into pig islet transplantation
JDRF has announced a one year industry partnership with an Australian company to support a clinical trial into the use of encapsulated pig islets to treat type 1 diabetes.
The trial, being conducted in New Zealand by Living Cell Technologies, involves eight adult patients with established type 1 diabetes and hypoglycemia unawareness – a constant inability to sense when blood glucose levels are dropping dangerously low.
Each patient has been surgically implanted with insulin-producing cells taken from specially bred pigs in a technique known as xenotransplantation – the transplantation of animal organs or tissues into humans to cure or treat health conditions.
Xenotransplantation is a growing field of interest for researchers as the use of animal tissues will circumvent the current shortage of human organ donors. It is also controversial in that some scientists believe undetected animal diseases could be transferred to humans.
The pig islet cells used in this trial were taken from a special herd of pigs that live on a remote island off New Zealand. The isolation of the colony has meant they have been theoretically untouched by the diseases that affect mainland pig herds.
The islet cells were also encapsulated in a special new substance made from seaweed – thus protecting the cells from immune attack whilst allowing the appropriate amount of insulin to be released effectively.
Living Cell Technologies scientists believe that using this technique will result in the transplanted cells will be able to safely effectively produce insulin and help control blood glucose levels without needing the harmful life-long regime of immune-suppression drugs that all organ transplant patients currently require.
Early results from the trial have shown that the implants do have an impact with one of the recipients reporting significantly reduced hypoglycemia unawareness.
Whilst xenotransplantation is banned in a number of countries, the New Zealand government has provided special dispensation for this trial to go ahead. The Australian National Health and Research Council has recently overturned a moratorium on animal-to-human transplants but guidelines are yet to be constructed to ensure any local trials are ethically and scientifically sound.
JDRF provides industry partnership funding to a number of large and small companies around the world to advance promising research into a cure for type 1 diabetes and type 1 diabetes complications.
Fingers crossed that type one children of today
won't have to endure a life time of testing and injections!!
go Tim Shadbolt, you offering to feed those pigs has resulting in my daughter not having to live with this disease all her life, go that good old kiwi injunuity!!!!!!!
Hope it all works out. I've been T1 for almost 35yrs now age 50 on Sat. My nephew aged 3 at diagnosis may be able to have some hope of not having to deal with the constant hassle on a daily basis of managment going forward if this is successful.l
they have been going on about pig islets for 20yrs now, nothing has ever happened, insulin companies have to much to loose if a new treatment happens
Nice negativity there Trevor!
Saw this on the "Sunday" program last week, and our 7 yr old daughter also watching! She was diagnosed at 16mths old and the hope in her voice when she asked us to explain what it is was heartbreaking. We often talk of a "cure" with her as she askes when can I not have diabetes? One day soon I hope.
i have type 1 and i have only been diabetic for 5 yrs. im 31yrs old im hoping they find a cure in my life time. so any trails been tested for this chronic disease is a good thing, here's hoping that this one is a step closer to a cure..
Same thing for us, after the segment my son said he hoped he could get it next year. I had to let him know it won't be that quick, that I hoped a cure would be available before he's 20. He's just about to turn 13. . . It's the hardest part of being the parent, that you can't make a cure yourself.
My 11 year old daugher was diagnosed in 2008 after the Olympics, where I was attending to watch her older sister compete in the Softball. The 11 year old is very athletic and is managing to cope with her diabetes very well, reaching the State Championships in Athletics, Cricket and lately will be competing for Soccer in June. She has so much potential, I sometimes wonder if she didn't have this awful disease, what she could achieve. Here's hoping we'll find out before too much longer!
I have 4 daughters, 2 are Type 1 . We are all praying for a cure but it take alot of cash to fund the research so I urge everyone who is affected by this awful disease to help and support JDRF in all its fundraising so we can get there quicker.I have to go now and do a pump site change.
I have a 2 yr old who will never remember a time without needles, I hope the cure comes sooner than later as his complications will hit alot earlier than usual. It breaks my heart to think he will have to face these in his future. I hope there is more awareness so we can find a cure quickly, Loving Mum of 4
For those living with Diabetes 1 for decades, the pig islet cell trials are a glimmer of hope. We've been watching the development of this treatment since its beginning and live in hope it will become mainstream beofre another decade slips away. For those us who are carers for Diabetics, it is heartening our loved ones may see an end to their uncertainty.
This is a glimmer of hope for my youngest son who is 20, but I am so sad my eldest son – who passed away due to diabetes type 1 at nearly 18 -for him this is too late.
Absolutely Clive, I pray everyday for that exact thing for my little girl.
Trevor, try and be positive, My daughter was diagnosed with T1 last year and I need hope not conspiracy theories.
One can always live in hope…My son was diagnosed when he was 8 with Type 1 Diabetes and now he is 15. As a parent you want to take away the pain and you would swap in a heartbeat for their disease. Like all of here, I live in hope and welcome any new trials….Good luck and fingers crossed that our prayers are answered…
Hi im 14 with t1 ive had it for 4 months im on an insulin pump im amazed with the technology they use and the research they have discoverd over the years to my ears this news is a break through and although its early stages i dont think it will be long as i am with a constand reminder that im a diabetic i would love to be cured
Our beautiful Grand-daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 just on 4 years ago at age 11 – and was fitted with a pump 2 years ago – she has handled everything very well, but I know she dearly wants to be like her peers and Diabetes FREE! I know her Mum has barely had a decent night's sleep since her diagnosis nor do I when she comes to stay with us! We all watched "Sunday" last week and now have great hope that a cure will come in our grand-daughter's lifetime – provided she can avoid the complications that can be so dangerous! With the recent loss of two young boys who slept through their Hypos and just didn't wake up – it's a timely reminder that we must do all we can to find a cure ASAP! As a family we fundraise for JDRF with the annual WALK but plan to do more now that we aware that a cure is closer! Maybe everyone else here could do the same & help JDRF too!!
KEEP YOUR NEGATIVITY TO YOURSELF. i LOOK FORWARD TO THE PROSPECT OF TELLING MY YOUNG CHILD THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE TO HAVE NEEDLES EVERY DAY. i'M SURE YOU WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THAT TOO. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK GUYS, WE ARE ALL BEHIND YOU. THANK YOU
I am the grandmother of a 3yr old with type 1. Since she was diagnosed last year, I have read and tried to absorb much of the research going on. My heart goes out to all who have this terrible disease and I see first-hand of what the person and family has to suffer. I feel very positive of all the breakthroughs that are coming in from all over the world. The JDRF certainly are playing a HUGE part in this research. Yes, get behind them. We are only a small community here of 2000 people but have just held a Charity Golf Day organised by the local Lions Club of which my husband is President. This has been raised for the JDRF.
Isn't it heartbreaking, we are all in the same boat and seem to be doing as best we can. Stay positive, you are doing a great job. If we do well, they do well
I'm with you Bev
My 20yr old son has had T1 since 6yrs old. We were promised a cure by the time he was in his early 20's – it's time!!! He has had "hypoglycemia unawareness" for 12yrs and this has caused complications with his health. He has to check his BGL every couple of hours – more frequently if during sports. We are now aware of the CGMs and I will be contacting Abbott asap. This is what we have been waiting for – monitoring BGLs is his major problem (eg.In the middle of an important Uni lecture and lose track of time and then have a 'hypo' and miss all the valuable info) – having a device to actually show the action of his BGL at any given time will give him a far greater freedom to actually 'live' his life. Islet transplantation, if it works, will be an even better life gift. Thankyou to all the researchers – keep going.
My son is also very active in sports having represented Sydney and NSW. He plays his heart out. People just don't understand what effort it is to just be there let alone play at such a high level. Diabetes has also had a huge impact on his education (having hypoglycemic unawareness since primary school – if the info doesn't go in, it can't come out!) With all these difficulties to contend with and their complications, he will be a Uni graduate in a couple of months. As you say, what would he be truly capable of if he didn't have this horrid disease. We just want our children to be able to reach their full potential
Yvonne. My son has been living with T1 since he was only 13 months old and now is 13 yrs old and now on a pump . He would love to to be free of this, we pray every day there will be a cue before to long and so he can be like any other healthy child.
Hello to all, I am 43 and have had type 2 for 20 years, my pancreas is now just about shot and am now Type 1.
what has changed my life around is an insulin pump……….it regulates my blood sugars and i only have to have one needle every 4-5 days……..for any parent out there please us your educator about these pumps, they will change you children's lives around 360%
[...] recent post on the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) blog details the amazing new research that scientists in New Zealand have discovered and [...]
I too am a parent to my beautiful 10 year old daughter, who was diagnosed 2 years ago. When she was first diagnosed, trying to take in all the information, I told the educators that I only wanted to "do this" for a max. of 5 years before a cure was found. Hopefully this is not just a dream. My heart goes out to all that suffer with this dreadful disease. My daughter is my hero. Lets find a cure soon.
hi sue i am a father of 10 years old boy he lives with diabetes from 4 years , i know your fuffering, my tears falling down when i read your comment , i wait watch eagerly what new in diabetes, but nothing confirmed yet or proof , i pray for cure for all our children(riyadh)Enter text right here!
Hang in there Sue, I feel very positive about all this research.
Thanks Lyn, We are hanging in there. We too are feeling positive about all this research.
Bring it on, give all those suffering this horrible thing a cure, including my 9 yr old son.
Yes, I pray that this cure would work out quickly ( like today is the desire of my heart) so that children and adults all around the world ( including my 24 year old son) would be able to be free from this disease. I pray it would be quickly and easily accessible and covered by insurances. I pray people everywhere could start getting these islet injections today. In Jesus' name, amen.